Amber Phantom vs Bald-faced Hornet

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Amber Phantom Bald-faced Hornet
Scientific Name Haetera piera Dolichovespula maculata
Order Lepidoptera Hymenoptera
Family Riodinidae Vespidae
Size 55-65 mm wingspan 15-20 mm
Habitat Forests Woodlands
Diet Fruit Feeders Fruit Feeders
Regions South America North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Amber Phantom

Largely transparent wings with small amber patches and pink-ringed eyespots. Floats through dark forest understory like a ghost.

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Did You Know?

Its nearly invisible wings make it almost undetectable as it drifts through dim forest shade.

Bald-faced Hornet

A large black and white social wasp that builds impressive football-sized paper nests in trees and on buildings. Despite its name, it is not a true hornet but a yellowjacket relative.

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Did You Know?

Bald-faced hornets can squirt venom from their stinger into the eyes of nest intruders, causing temporary blindness and intense pain.